Grease and oil separator



F. W. MASON.

GREASE AND OIL SEPARATOFI." APPLICATION nun Aue.2'd. 1918.

1 377 906, mm May 10,1921,

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Witnesses h [5M 771 A220 FREDERICK WELLIAM MASON, 01 TORONTU, ONTARIO, CANADA.

Learners.

Application filed August 30, 1918.

To all whom it may COWGGWYL.

Be it known that I, FREDERICK WILLIAM Mason, a citizen of Canada, residing at city of Toronto, in the county of York and Province of @ntario, Canada, have invented new and useful Improvements in Grease and Oil Separators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in grease and oil separators, and is primarily intended for recovering grease from the liquid discharged from digesters, presses, and the like used in packing houses and rendering plants, though of course it may also be employed anywhere where grease or oil is to be reclaimed such as in the case of overflow from crank cases of engines.

in packing houses it is customary to convey the liquids from the digesters, presses and'the like to a catch basin, where the grease is allowed to settle and is removed by hand skimming. Where separators have been employed it has usually been found either that too much grease has been dis charged with the water and lost, or else too much water has been drawn oil? with the grease. One of the great troubles has been that a foaming condition has been set up in most of the separators that have been tried, this of course renders proper separation impossible.

The essential features of my invention consist in the provision of a vessel divided into a series of chambers in which the means of communication between the said chambers comprises water pipes arranged sub stantially vertically and in close proximity to the partition dividing that chamber from the next; the top end of each pipe is open and terminates substantially flush with the top of the sides of the vessel, and the open bottom ends of the pipes are graduated in height, each one lower than the last; each discharge from the said pipes into the next chamber is graduated in height each one higher than the last. The means ot communication for the oil from one chamber to the next consists in a series of horizontally arranged pipes on substantially the same horizontal plane and each having a T-attachment arranged at its discharge end which may be turned either vertically or at varying angles to the vertical. The oil dis charge pipes must also be at a higher level than the last water discharge pipe.

The objects attained by this form of con Specification of Letters Patent.

GREASE AND OIL SEPARATOR.

Patented lliiayilti, 1921..

Serial No. 252,125.

struction are: firstly, the water pipes are anti-siphon pipes on account of their upper ends being always open to the atmosphere and consequently, the possibility of foaming is precluded; secondly the T-attachments naturally discharge the oil through the upper side and the water through the lower side; and thirdly the adjustability ot the T- attachments permits of adjustment to handle varying heights of liquid in the various chambers.

My invention is more fully described with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which similar parts are similarly designated in all the views;

Figure 1 shows a sectional elevation, on the line 1-1 of 2.

Fig. 2 a plan,

Fig. 3 a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 a section on the line iof 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, 36 designates a separator, preferably of rectangular shape, divided into chambers a, 3, 2. 1 and 8 by the partitions 5, 6, 7, and 9. In the first chamber 4 I provide one or more removable strainers or baskets 15, having outlets on their undersides of suiiicient size to allow liquid to pass freely through, but which will retain any solids; for this purpose I prefer to employ expanded metal or wire netting oi suitable mesh. The said strainers 15 rest on sup ports 37, 37. From the outer support 37" I arrange deflecting plate 38, with open ings 19 arranged in its upper end.

Tn the chamber 4 I also supply a vertical. water pipe 17 extending downward from a height substantially level with the top ot the sides of the said chamber to approximately level with the bottom of the deflecting plate 38. The said pipe 17 is open at both ends and has a horizontal branch 18 which passes through the partition 5 into the chamber 3. The horizontal oil pipe 20 arranged above the level of the branch 18 also connects the chambers 4 and 3, and has a 'T-attachment 39, with upper and lower outlets 21 and 22 respectively, at its discharge end.

Similarly in the chambers 3 and 2 cal water pipes 23 and 28 with horizontal branches 24- and 29 connect with the chamhers 2 and 1 respectively. And also in the said chambers 3 and 2 vertical oil pipes 25 and 30 enter into the chambers 2 and 1 respectively where the said pipes 25 and 30 verti- I tates toward the bottom.

terminate in T-attachments 40 and L1, having top outlets 26 and 31, and bottom outlets 27 and 32 respectively.

In the chamber 1 I providean oil funnel 12, the lower end of which is preferably provided with a set screw 13 so that the height of the said funnel may be regulated up and down the upper end of the oil discharge pipe 11 which passes through the outer wall 42 of the chamber 1.

From the chamber 1, and toward the bottom thereof, the inlet 33 of the water pipe 10 passes through the partition 9 and terminates in the tell-tale chamber 8 at a height slightly below the level of the top of the funnel 12 when in its bottom position in the chamber. The water discharge pipe 34 in the telltale chamber 8 is similarly arranged to the pipes 28, 23, and 17 in that it is open at both top and bottom, the top thereof being substantially level with the top of the sides of the chamber 8, and the bottom in close proximity to the bottom of the chamber 8. The pipe 3 1 has a water discharge branch 35, which passes through the side 42 of the said chamber 8, the height of the said branch 35 being slightly below the level of the top of the pipe 10.' The operation of the separator is as follows:

Liquid is emptied into the removable strainer 15 where any solids are retained, and the liquid passes down into the space 14 between the deflecting plate 38 and outer wall 43, and through the outlet 16 into the main portion of the chamber 4. Along the upper end of the deflecting plate 38 I supply a series of holes as shown at 19 which permit'of oil passing out into the chamber 4 without going down through the outlet 16. These holes allow the oil to get away which might otherwise be kept up in the space 14 while the water escaped through the outlet 16.

Once the liquid is in the chamber 4 the oil tends to rise and the water naturally gravi- The oil passes the oil pipe 20 into the T-attach- Inent 39 where it strikes against the end of the said T; here the oil tends to rise and flow out through the upper outlet 21, and any water that may have been carried along with the oil tends to "fall and passes out through the lower outlet both into the chamber V The water rises up the pipe 1'? and pas along the branch 18 into the chamber 3 where it enters at a lower level than the pipe It any oil has come through. the water pipe with the water it will then rise in the chamber 3' to the oil level. And it is for the reason that less oil will pass through the water pipes'in the succeeding operations that the branches in the third and. fourth chambers are at gradually falling levels.

'The oil pipes 25 and 30 with their T'- through attachments 40 and ll respectively operate similarly to the oil pipe 20 with its T-at tachment 39. The three oil pipes 20, 25, and 30, are substantially on the same horizontal plane.

The water pipes 23 and 28 with their branches 24 and 29 operate similarly to the pipe 17 and branch 18, though each succeeding pipe 23 and 28 extends lower down in their respective chambers as in each sucseeding operation there is less oil entering the water pipes with the water.

Qn account of the fact that the water pipes 17, 23, and 28 are open at their upper ends to the atmosphere at all times there is no possibility of siphonic action from chamher to chamber. This-has been the cause of foaming in other forms of separators as air has been in that way mixed with the water and oil and consequently proper separation has been impossible.

The T ettachments 39, 10, and 4L1, are rotatably mounted on their respective oil supply pipes so that they may be inclined at varying angles to the vertical. This is of assistance because when the top of the oil is below the discharge level of the upper side of the T-attachment when in vertical position, the latter may be turned to such an angle that the discharge level will be lowered, and the oil allowed to flow from one chamber to the next.

When the liquid reaches the chamber 1 thorough separation has taken place. The oil is then drawn off through the funnel 12 and oil discharge pipe 11. The object of having the height of the said funnel adjustable is so as to be ableto take care of spasmodic feeding when 'theheight of the liquid may be suddenly raised, in which event some of the water might get into the oil discharge funnel. The height of the oil tunnel of course normally regulates the height of the liquid in the tank.

The use of the tell-tale chamber is not es sential to the operation of the device, but its use is very desirable, because any oil that is escaping with the water would immediately be detected by the operator. And also because the arrangement of the piping into and iromthe said chamber practically guarantees that no oil will escape. Firstly it would have to drop to the bottom of chamber to enter the inlet oi pipe 10, and it would then again have to drop from the high'discharge level of the side pipe 10 to the bottom of the tell-tale chamber to enter the inlet of the water discharge pipe 34. And this the oil could not do.

In fact by experiments'it has been conclusively' shown that either water or oil I have referred to the oil pipe; 'this of.

course means oil and grease pipes in apposition to water pipes which latter term refers to pipes to convey the resultant liquid from which the liquid fatty matter is being or has been recovered.

When this device is being employed in packing houses and rendering plants for separating grease the latter is usually handled at a temperature of from 160 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

In the foregoing I have described a fourchamber separator. The number of chambers however may be varied.

Moreover certain alterations and modifications may be made in the construction of the invention provided the said altera tions and modifications fall within the scope 01 what I claim.

What I claim is 1. A grease and oil separator comprising a vessel divided by partitions into a plurality of chambers, water conducting means connecting each chamber with the one next to it, said water conducting means consisting of vertical pipes open at both ends, the upper ends of said pipes terminating substantially flush with the top of said chambers and their lower ends extending some depth into their respective chambers, said pipes each having a substantially horizontal branch extending through the adjacent partitions into the adjoining chambers and oil pipes connecting each chamber with the one next to it, in combination with separate water and oil discharge pipes.

2. A grease and oil separator comprising a vessel divided by partitions into a plurality of chambers, water conducting means connecting each chamber with the one next to it, said means consisting of vertical pipes having their lower ends graduated in height each one lower than the last, said pipes each having a substantially horizontal branch extendin through the adjacent partition into the adjacent chamber, said vertical branches being graduated in height each branch being on a higher horizontal plane than the last, and substantially horizontal oil pipes connecting each chamber with the one next to it in combination with separate Water and oil discharge pipes.

3. A grease and oil separator comprising a vessel divided into a plurality of chambers, water conducting means connecting each chamber with the one next to it, and vertically arranged oil pipes connecting each chamber with the one next to it, each of said oil pipes having T-attachment arranged on its discharge end, in combination with separate water and oil discharge pipes.

4. g} grease and oil separator comprising a vessel divided by partitions into a plurality of chambers, suitable piping connecting each chamber with the one next to it, an

oil discharge arranged in the final chamber, in combination with a tell tale chamber, con: nected to said final chamber by a pipe having an inlet in close proximity to the base of said final chamber and discharging in said tell tale chamber below the level of said oil discharge, and a final water discharge.

.5. A grease and oil separator comprising a vessel divided into a plurality of chambers,

water connecting means consisting of antisiphon pipes connecting each chamber with the one next to it, and horizontal oil pipes also connecting each chamber with the one next to it, said oil-pipes having adjustable Tattachments at their discharge ends in combination with separate oil and Water discharging means.

6. A grease and oil separator comprising a vessel divided into a plurality of chambers, the first or receiving chamber having a strainer in the upper portion thereof, said strainer draining into a portion of said first chamber separated from the main body thereof by a deflecting plate terminating some distance from the bottom of said strainer, said deflecting plate being provided with perforations toward the upper end thereof, in combination with vertical water pipes arranged in said chambers said water pipes being open at both ends and each having a substantially horizontal branch terminating in the next chamber in sequence; and horizontal oil pipes having T-attachments at their outlet ends connecting each chamber to the next chamber in sequence, in combination with separate oil and water discharge-pipes. a

7. A grease and oil separator comprising a vessel divided by partitions into a plurality of chambers, water conducting means connecting each chamber with the one next to it, said water conducting means consisting of vertical pipes open at both ends, said top ends terminating substantially level with the top of said chambers, and said bottom ends graduated. in height each one lower than the last, said pipes each having a substantially horizontal branch terminating in the next chamber in sequence, each of said branches being on a higher horizontal plane than the last, and horizontal oil pipes on substantially the same level connecting the chambers each with the one next to it in sequence, said oil pipes being on a higher horizontal plane than the last water discharge pipe, in combination with separate oil and water discharge pipes.

8. A grease and oil separator comprising a vessel divided by partitions into a plurality of chambers, water conducting means connecting each chamber with the one next to it in sequence, and horizontal oil pipes connecting each chamber with the one next to it in sequence, said oil pipes having means whereby the oil discharge level may be regulated, in'combination with a final oil discharge, the height of which may be also varied, and a Water discharge.

9. A grease and oil separator comprising in combination, a strainer, a receiving passage from said strainer, oil outlet holes in side of said passage, a main outlet at bottom of said passage into the first of a series of chambers, each chamber having both antisiphon water pipes and oil pipes with adjustability, as to their discharge level communicating with the next chamber in sequence, a final oil discharge of adjustable height, a tell tale chamber connected by a water pipe from final chamber, and an antisiphon pipe to discharge the contents from said tell tale chamber.

F. W. MASON.

Witnesses:

JOHN THOMSON, D. K. NORTON. 

